Decentralized personal data distribution and tracking using blockchains

Abstract

A system with a content provider and service provider is used to maintain and communicate one or more data containers comprising private information and privacy settings of a user. The service provider may provide a social network service that accesses various personal information. A smart contract is determined according to the privacy settings of the user, such that a user my opt-in and opt-out of allowing access to a wide range of applications.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a content provider to maintain one or more data containers comprising private information and privacy settings of a user; and   a service provider to provide a service to the user, wherein the service is associated with a smart contract that is determined according to the privacy settings of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the content provider aggregates content of a plurality of users. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein when the user signs up to the service, the service provider updates the smart contract according to the privacy settings of the user. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein when the service provider is a social media service. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein when the service provider uses, sells or licenses the private information of the user, the smart contract is tracked and enforced using a token and a blockchain. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein when the user is notified that a third-party used their private information. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein permissions are automatically approved or disapproved via a data wallet. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an approval by the user is tracked. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user is notified in real-time when any of their private information is being packaged or used. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein during a third-party usage of their private information, their smart contract may change according to their privacy settings within a particular media site. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 maintaining, via a content provider, one or more data containers comprising private information and privacy settings of a user; and   providing a service to the user via a service provider, wherein the service is associated with a smart contract that is determined according to the privacy settings of the user.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the content provider aggregates content of a plurality of users. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the method comprises updating the smart contract according to the privacy settings of the user, when the user signs up to the service. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein when the service provider is a social media service. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the method comprises tracking and enforcing the smart contract using a token and a blockchain, when the service provider uses, sells or licenses the private information of the user. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the method comprises notifying the user when a third-party uses their private information. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the method comprises automatically approving or disapproving of permissions via a data wallet. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the method comprises tracking the user's approval. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the method comprises notifying the user in real-time when any of their private information is being packaged or used. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the method comprises changing the smart contract of a user according to their privacy settings, during a third-party usage of their private information within a particular media site.